Combined pull-to and latch lever for vehicle doors



Jan. 6, 1942. c. A. scHALLls 2,268,904

` COMBINED PULL'TO AN LATCH LEVER FOR VEHICLE'DOORS 2 sheets-Sheet 1Filed May l17, 1940 INV ENT OR.

ATTORNEY,

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-WIMWHHHHMWMIWV Jan. 6, 41942. c. A. scHALLls A COMBINED PULL-TO ANDLATCH LEVER FOR VEHICLE DOORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i INVENTOR. C///n [5,9c/muv,

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Patented Jan. l6, 1942 COMBINED'PULL-TO AND LATCH LEVER FOR VEHICLEDOORS Charles A. Schallis, Highland `Iark, Mich., as-

signor tov Ternstedt Manufacturing Company, Detroit, Mich., acorporation of vMichigan Application May 17, 1940, Serial No. 335,731

4 claims. (C1. 292-1.)

This invention relates to a combined inside handle and pull-to for anautomobile door. It is the object of the invention to provide a flexiblestrap pull-to adjacent the operating lever and especially a strap whichfirst has to bepulled toward the person in the car before the insidelatch lever is released so that it can be operated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the combined lever and pull-tomechanism taken on the line I-I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section through the operating lever taken onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of a modified form taken on the line4-4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the same modified form of combined lever andpull-to.

I designates an operating lever which is turned clockwise or downwardlyin order to operate the latch bolt (not shown) This operating lever isfastened to a spindle 2 which, in turn, is fastened to the crank 3 onthe back of the door. This connects with a remote control link 4 whichconnects with a pin 5 on the bolt (not shown). 6 is a pull-to strapwhich is made of fabric or leather. One end is riveted to the bracket 1and the other end is turned in and riveted at 8 to the detent 9. Thisdetent is in the form of a yoke as shown in Fig. 2. The safety pin typeof spring II ordinarily keeps the detent in the position shown in Fig. 1and, in this position, the strap is drawn up against the side of thetrimming. In fact, it would be drawn flat against the side of thetrimming were it not for the projection I0. .When the detent is in theposition shown in Fig. 1, it bears in front of the plate I2 which isfastened to the link 4. Hence, with the parts in the position shown inFigs. 1 and 2, it is not possible to turn the lever I to release thebolt. This is a safety factor and is especially useful in the rear seatwhere children are present.

In order to release the latch, one has to first grasp the pull-to 6 andpull and then press the thumb down on the lever to push this down orclockwise to release the bolt. In the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5, thereis no releasing detent. The strap I3 is here made of leather or a fabricwith a spring steel insert I4. This strap forms not only a pull-to butalso a support for the hand which gives a leverage when the thumbpresses on lever I to turn the lever. Of course,

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it will be understood that, with the thumb lever, the latch bolt has tobe of a special type which can be easily retracted. A spring I'I is theusual spring that presses the trim material out against the escutcheonI8. Spring I9 serves to return the handle to its customary horizontalposition f after release.

What I claim is:

1. Inj an automobile latch control, the combination of a lever, a loopedpull-to handle immediately adjacent the lever which can support thehandas the thumb actuates the lever, bolt operating connectionsconnected with the thumb lever and blocking means connected with andcontrolled by the pull-to strap and normally blocking the movement ofthe operating connections until the strap is forcibly pulled outwardlypreparatory to turning of the lever.

2. In a remote control lockV assembly, a lever, a crank secured to theinside of the lever, a bolt operating link secured to said crank andprovided with a blocking plate, a pull-to `member normally bearingtoward the inside face of the door, a detent connected therewith whichis arranged to bear inthe path of the plate to block the movement of thesaid link and which is released from the path of the plate to permitoperation of the link when the pull-to member is pulled outwardly.

3. In a remoter control lock assembly, the combination of a flexiblepull-to handle that normally nestles toward the inside of the door, athumb lever at one endy of said pull-to handle, operating connectionsarranged to be located on the inside of the door and connected to thesaid handle and a detent normally in the pathof movement of saidoperating connections when said handle nestles towards the door andwhich detent releases the operating connections when the handle ispulled out preparatory to operating the thumb lever.

4. In an automobile latch control, the combi-` nation of a boltoperating lever, and a separate pull-to handle adjacent the lever, boltoperating connections connected with the lever and blocking meansconnected with and controlled by movement of the pull-to handle, saidblocking means normally blocking movement of the operating connectionsuntil the pull-to handle which is connected therewith is forcibly movedtor release the blockingy means preparatory to the turning of saidadjacent lever.

CHARLES A. scHALLis. i

